Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 558 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire Game Cover
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Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire is a stand-alone expansion, offering a new epic story through two campaigns featuring the new fortress faction: Dwarves. This turn-based strategy and RPG game includes improved mechanics, new maps, and additional content that enriches the Might & Magic universe. Ideal for both newcomers and existing fans.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 558 reviews
gameplay19 positive mentions
stability33 negative mentions
  • Cool story line with engaging gameplay.
  • Nice upgrade in graphics, reminiscent of earlier Heroes games.
  • Fun gameplay with a mix of strategy and RPG elements.
  • Game is plagued with bugs, including crashes and save issues.
  • Multiplayer is nearly unplayable due to frequent desynchronization errors.
  • Ubisoft's authentication system is problematic, preventing access to the game.
  • gameplay58 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the new town mechanics, unique units, and improved skill systems, while others criticize the slow-paced combat and numerous bugs that hinder the experience. Many users noted that the gameplay feels repetitive and can swing between being unchallenging and overly difficult, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements and nostalgic aspects, the presence of significant bugs and balance issues detracts from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The biggest upsides: that one-more-turn gameplay is there, the factions/creatures are pretty nice as is the skill wheel.”
    • “The gameplay is very similar but with some improvements (nice graphics, finally a good skill tree, assassination mechanic, and some more).”
    • “Total trash, if you played Heroes of Might and Magic 6, don't play this or you will ruin your experience in gameplay!”
    • “You will run into disappearing units, thrown together balance fixes that break faction mechanics (undead's raise), and a humongous amount of gameplay bugs.”
    • “The gameplay is diverse, it keeps me coming back for more, the hotseat mode is fast and entertaining, and I love the campaign so far.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and improvements over previous titles, while others criticize them as outdated or mediocre. Many users highlight beautiful artwork and animations, but there are also reports of technical issues, such as crashes and bugs affecting the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent to good, but opinions vary significantly on their quality compared to earlier installments in the series.

    • “A very easy game to play casually at your own pace... stunning visual graphics makes this game well worth playing, so far (in my opinion) the best version of the Heroes series...”
    • “I find the graphics gorgeous indeed, with very little exception.”
    • “It is smooth, the graphics are pretty and the terrain on the map is pretty cool, much more detailed than any other Heroes game I've played.”
    • “Graphics look like garbage.”
    • “Another bad thing is the graphics are about 10 years out of date.”
    • “Absolute trash game; worst heroes I have ever seen. The graphics look like trash and the maps are horrible. This heroes should take notes from heroes 5 because buildings look like my 3-year-old cousin designed it and the cities are in 2D, looking like a drawing I created when I was 4. Honestly, the game looks like they ran out of money and got really lazy in most aspects of the game. I highly do not recommend this game to anyone, even if it was free; don't waste your space.”
  • story44 mentions

    The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improved graphics and certain campaign missions, while others criticize the overall narrative as forgettable and disjointed. Many find the characters and story arcs lacking depth, leading to a lack of investment in the plot, despite some interesting twists and improvements over previous installments. Additionally, technical issues and bugs detract from the storytelling experience, leaving players frustrated with the execution of the campaign.

    • “I am a young king on a mad quest to rule the world.”
    • “In the DLC, many story holes got filled and some cool twists.”
    • “A really nice improvement compared to the base game, the new faction is fun and the campaign storyline is way better than the original game.”
    • “The campaign has a terrible storyline and can be very annoying to play.”
    • “Story arcs are pretty basic and it's difficult to really get invested in most of the characters.”
    • “The story of the game is really boring.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and freezes affecting both single-player and multiplayer modes. While some players noted improvements over time, many still experience significant issues, including unstable saves and unresponsive gameplay. Overall, the game is considered to be in a persistently buggy state, with little to no ongoing support from the developers.

    • “It has its flaws, but over the years the game has been fixed; no crashes, no glitches. It could be a better game, but it's pretty solid.”
    • “Nice game, not buggy at all.”
    • “Well, at least this isn't buggy as hell like most newly released games, so... improvement?”
    • “Endless bugs, crashes, freezes, etc.”
    • “The developers announced that no more updates will be released, so the game is left in an extremely buggy state.”
    • “It's so buggy, it's kind of impressive that they dared to release it.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful town and adventure map themes, particularly from the DLC, while others criticize the heavy reuse of assets and a lack of new compositions. Many players feel the soundtrack does not match the high standards set by previous titles, especially Heroes of Might and Magic IV, leading to a perception of blandness in the overall musical experience. Despite these criticisms, some tracks, like Sylvan's theme, are highlighted as standout pieces.

    • “The music, sounds, gameplay are absolutely fantastic!”
    • “The game itself is beautiful with a fantastic soundtrack with good coloring; I myself run it in 4K with no problems.”
    • “The music is great, the maps look great, the town screens are cool, the new creature lineups and resource types are a refreshing change, and the game overall is an achievement.”
    • “Many reused assets (music, unit models, skill icons).”
    • “Recycling a lot of music from Clash of Heroes, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, and now from HOMM 6. While I enjoy a lot of those themes, I would really like to see more new compositions.”
    • “Music is bland (and I'm not even comparing it to HOMM 4, which in my opinion has some of the best music in any game); it doesn't feel like a Heroes soundtrack.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering diverse strategies and multiple paths to victory that cater to various play styles. While many players find it enjoyable for several playthroughs and skirmishes, some prefer older titles for long-term replayability. The inclusion of all factions in the standalone expansion further enhances its replay value.

    • “Great AI and tactics, and replayability.”
    • “Excellent game, very much replayable - many different paths to victory and easy for anyone to find a play style that they enjoy most.”
    • “Endless replayability.”
    • “Fun for several playthroughs and skirmishes, but for long-term replayability, I would still choose some older titles over this one.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for significant performance issues, including frequent bugs that can lead to crashes and desynchronization among players. While some users note that advancements in computer hardware have improved playability over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized compared to other titles, with persistent sound bugs and animation hiccups.

    • “Great game made better with the passage of time because today's computers can handle its performance issues.”
    • “The game is at least playable for the most part; despite sound bugs, animation hiccups, and performance issues, I like the game.”
    • “Of course, the bugs are still noticeable, and the game is technically not well optimized.”
    • “Bugs all over the place which will either crash the game, your computer (because of bad optimization), or just get out of sync with the rest of the players, forcing a reload.”
    • “It must be poorly optimized, since I am playing The Witcher 3 at the highest settings without any problems on the same laptop.”
    • “The game is at least playable for the most part; sound bugs, animation hiccups, and poor performance aside, I like the game.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its stunning landscapes and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of Heroes of Might and Magic III, successfully capturing the essence of the original while utilizing a modern engine. However, some users noted that the animation clarity could be improved, although adjustments in video options can mitigate atmospheric blurring. Overall, the game delivers a rich and immersive experience that resonates well with long-time fans.

    • “In Heroes VII, they totally captured the atmosphere, and the creatures are finally amazing.”
    • “The landscape is stunning, and the atmosphere, along with the way the maps are built, is very close to Heroes of Might and Magic III, in my humble opinion.”
    • “A very complete product with a very nice atmosphere. I'm happy to see that after so many years, a great team managed to bring the original Heroes of Might and Magic III look and feel to a modern engine, allowing us to enjoy the game again.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with many players finding the characters and missions forgettable and the storytelling, particularly in the dungeon campaign, to be lacking and uninspiring. This has led to feelings of wasted time for some players, detracting from the overall emotional engagement with the game.

    • “Mostly forgettable characters and missions, boring storytelling. The dungeon's campaign is one of the worst stories I've ever seen in M&M.”
    • “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
    • “I found the narrative to be uninspired and the emotional moments felt forced, failing to resonate with me.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is generally viewed positively, with users noting that it avoids aggressive cash grab tactics, extreme DLC policies, and excessive microtransactions, making it accessible for casual players.

    • “The game maintains its quality without resorting to extreme DLC policies or excessive microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate that the game isn't downgraded and remains casual while offering fair monetization options.”
    • “The monetization approach is balanced, ensuring a great experience without overwhelming players with additional costs.”
    • “Don't fall for this cash grab (unless I am missing something).”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, with players finding it genuinely funny, particularly in its quirky animations and character movements. However, some users have noted that technical issues, such as desyncing during battles, can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Really funny game, but when you reach a human player in a battle, the desyncing issues are insane.”
    • “My first encounter with the Lil' Homm version of Heroes of Might and Magic 7 made me laugh so hard when I saw them walk towards my troops instead of the original flight movement. It was like watching someone tied at both legs still trying to walk.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Users express satisfaction with the character development in the game, highlighting it as a strong aspect alongside the castle development.

    • “I was very happy with the character development in this game, as well as the castle development.”
    • “The character development is incredibly rich and adds depth to the overall story.”
    • “I loved how the characters evolved throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding experience in the game hindered by the slow loading times associated with Ubisoft's Uplay game launcher, which can take around five minutes to start the game.

    • “Unfortunately, Ubisoft's tedious Uplay game launcher is still required, so it takes about 5 minutes to load the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

30hMedian play time
62hAverage play time
7-150hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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